Keillor Says MPR Made 'Enormous Mistake'

Garrison Keillor at the studios of Minnesota Public Radio in St. Paul, Minn. in 2014. (Jeffrey Thompson/Minnesota Public Radio via AP, File)

(Newser)
–
Garrison Keillor says Minnesota Public Radio was wrong to fire him last week without fully investigating what a senior executive has described as "multiple allegations" made against the former A Prairie Home Companion host by a single person. Jon McTaggart, CEO of MPR's parent company, American Public Media Group, addressed the issue at an employee meeting Wednesday, reports the AP. McTaggart didn't provide details of the allegations against the 75-year-old veteran broadcaster, saying only that he has shared them with lawyers and board members. Last week, an MPR spokeswoman said the company had received multiple allegations of "inappropriate behavior" against Keillor spanning an extended period of time and involving one person who worked with him while he was on A Prairie Home Companion.

Keillor announced Nov. 30 that MPR had terminated his contracts after four decades of entertaining public radio listeners with tales of small-town characters. He later said he had put his hand on a woman's bare back when trying to console her. Keillor said he did not attend Wednesday's meeting, but he expressed disappointment at the company's response to the allegations. "I expect to deal with MPR soon to try to fix the enormous mistake they have made by not conducting a full and fair investigation," he said, per the AP. In a statement Thursday, Keillor's attorney stressed they know of allegations made by "one individual" and hoped McTaggart would "set the record straight in this respect to avoid any misperceptions." He added Keillor wants a swift resolution of the matter and "with it expects a full restoration of his reputation."